Basketball to Host Midnight Madness

By Sara Elcano, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's and women's basketball teams will host a Midnight Madness event on Friday, Oct. 15. Activities will begin at 10 p.m. (PDT).

Several Willamette athletic teams will participate in contests and relays to kickoff the evening. Following the relays, Willamette Events Board will be sponsoring bingo inside Cone Field House from 10:45-11:30 p.m. (PDT).

Current students are encouraged to bring clothing items from other colleges and universities. If they turn in an item with a school name other than Willamette University on it, they will receive a free Bearcat Bench t-shirt. There is a limit of one t-shirt per student.

The basketball action will begin at 12 a.m. (PDT). The men's and women's basketball teams will be introduced. First year members of the men's basketball team will be making a special performance. Contests between the men's and women's teams and crowd contests with prizes will follow the introductions.

Midnight Madness will conclude with a pizza eating contest sponsored by Campus Life and a scrimmage by each team.

The men's team opens the season on Nov. 16 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. The men will play their first home game on Saturday, Nov. 20 against Northwest Christian University at 7 p.m. (PDT). A special ceremony will be held at halftime of the game against NCU to formally rename the floor after former Head Coach Gordie James.

The women's basketball team will begin play with an exhibition game at the University of Oregon on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The home opener will be on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT) against Northwest Christian University.